Thinkpads Forum

i picked up a Thinkcentre M55P and I want to put a PCI-e video card in it, preferably nVidia because I run Linux. It has a PCI Express x1 and a PCI Express x16 port. It has a 300 watt power supply, so I don't know if it will take a top of the line video card that draws tons of power, but I may be wrong. Basically I am looking for suggestions on the best video card to get for this machine. I will do some gaming on it, but nothing very demanding. My budget tops out at $150. I've been out of the desktop / video card market for some years, so I've definitely lost track of what is considered a good video card anymore.

harry - your 300W PS is enough to power everything designed to fit inside your M55p so that's nothing to worry about.

if i decide to upgrade the 256MB nvidia FX370 in my D10 when it arrives then i'll let you know.   it's a PCIe x16 card and would probably work for you quite well.   the only question i'd have then is what i should get to replace it.

Sounds good Erik, I am interested. Meanwhile, if anyone has any card suggestions for me (or Erik ) Let us know.

I found this regularly updated guide very helpful when picking out my video card. I was also under a power supply constraint, only 250 watts here.

Tom's Hardware Best Graphics Cards for the Money: May 08

Thanks, that guide was helpful.

i think i'm going to save my pennies for an ATI FireGL V7700.   it seems to have the best bang-for-buck ratio in workstation cards, plus it has displayport output.   now i just need to save 92,998 more pennies...

update: i ended up with a quadro FX 3700.

I was actually looking at the GeForce 8800 GS based on the Tom's article and my budget . Anyone use that card?

I run an ATI FireGL V5200 on mine with two 1600 X 1200 LCD monitors using Vista Ultimate 64. Works fine.